This American Life presents... The Sanctity of Marriage[1]... Stories trying to understand what actually happens in marriages, during this time when the definition of marriage is up in the air. Prologue. Ira visits Kassie Hannah's Adult Living class at Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Illinois, where they stage a mock wedding each year as part of the curriculum. (6 minutes) Act One. What Really Happens in Marriage. Ira visits marital researcher John Gottman, who's part of a generation of researchers that have revolutionized the way we see marriage by observing successful and unsuccessful marriages and trying to figure out what the successful happy ones are doing that the ones who end up in divorce are not. Marriage research and links to marriage education programs for couples are online at www.smartmarriages.com . (23 minutes) Act Two. The Defense of Marriage Act. Adam Felber explains how legalized gay marriage are ruining his marriage with his wife. (His comments first appeared on his blog felbers.net .) And Ira talks about legal strategies with Matt Staver, the head of the group defending traditional marriage in the California lawsuits, and with David Cruz, a law professor at the University of Southern California. (8 minutes) Act Three. I Want to be a Statistic. Starlee Kine gets answers about her parents marriage from her dad ... after a lifetime of mystery. She and her sister had wanted her parents to divorce since they were little. (16 minutes)